Bodh Gaya or Bodhgaya is a religious place in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar.

It is famous for being the place of Gautama Buddha’s attainment of Enlightenment. Historically, it was known as the Bodhimanda (ground around the Bodhi-tree), Uruvela, Sambodhi, Vajrasana and Mahabodhi. The name Bodh Gaya did not come into use until the 18th century. The main monastery of Bodhgaya used to be called the Bodhimanda-vihāra (Pali). Now it is called the Mahabodhi Temple. For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha, the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. In 2002, Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gaya, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main temple complex houses the famous Mahabodhi temple/stupa and a descendant of the original Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment. There are also temples or monasteries from many other nations with a Buddhist tradition — Thai, Tibetan, Japanese, .

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Bodhi Tree

It is believed that this tree is a direct descendant of the one under which the Buddha Sakyamuni attained enlightenment, inside the Mahabodhi complex.

Mahabodhi Stupa

The Bodhgaya Stupa, or Mahabodhi Vihara as it is also known, was erected in the place where Buddha Shakyamuni gained enlightenment some two thousand five hundred years ago. Its origins are lost in time, but it is known that King Ashoka erected a shrine to Buddha here in the third century B.C.

Thai Monastery

The Thai Temple is adorned with sloping and curved roof which has been covered with golden tiles. The exterior is exquisite and is not to be missed.

80-foot Buddha Statue

The Giant Buddha Statue is one of the many stops in the Buddhist pilgrimage and tourist routes in Bodhgaya, Bihar. The statue is 25 m (82 ft) high in meditation pose or dhyana mudra seated on a lotus in open air. It took seven years to complete with the help of 120,000 masons. It is a mix of sandstone blocks and red granite. It is possibly the largest built in India and was consecrated on 18 November 1989 by the 14th Dalai Lama. The foundation stone for the statue was placed in 1982. The statue is made of red granite and sandstone blocks.

Bodhgaya Multimedia Museum –

Located next to the Mahabodhi Temple, Open all 7 days of the week. Museum provides the historical and Geographical context for the life of Buddha through a set of Multimedia films and 3D Animation movie

Barabar caves –

The oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, mostly dating from the Mauryan period (322–185 BCE), and some with Ashokan inscriptions, located in the Jehanabad District, 24 km north of Gaya.

Stroll Around

Whether you're a Buddhist or not, the main thing to do in Bodh Gaya is just to absorb the vibe of the place where the Buddha attained awakening: the vapor trail of that energy is still in the air!

Rajgir

100 kms from Bodhgaya, The site of Gridhakuta (Vulture's Peak), where the Buddha stayed and gave teachings on the Mahayana (the second turning of the wheel), and Venuvana, the first Buddhist monastery. Rajgir is also an area known for its hot springs, which are open to the public. Buses depart from Bodhgaya, but often require a change in Bihar Sharif.

Nalanda

This Buddhist university was established in 450CE. Currently, there are extensive ruins, but no inhabitants. Nalanda Museum is open 10AM-5PM daily except Friday. 110 Kms far from Bodhgaya

Deo

Visit this place for a glimpse of Famous Sun Temple, 80 Kms far from Bodhgaya